Search smh:

Search in:

Sanfrecce leapfrog Antlers in J-League

Kazuhiko Chiba scored in the 80th minute to send defending champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima to the top of the J-League with a 1-0 win over FC Tokyo on Saturday.

Sanfrecce took full advantage of previous leaders Kashima Antlers' 2-1 home loss to Albirex Niigata earlier in the day to go one point clear after seven games of the season.

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan scored twice for Cerezo Osaka but was unable to deliver a win in a 2-2 derby draw with Gamba Osaka.

Forlan opened the scoring in the 21st minute before Hiroyuki Abe struck twice to give Gamba the lead. But Forlan salvaged a point for Cerezo with an equaliser direct from a free-kick in the 62nd minute, taking his tally to three league goals for the season.

Advertisement

"He showed his true quality today," said Cerezo defender Gojko Kacar of the 34-year-old Forlan. "It wasn't just the goals; he was a threat to the opposition all day."

Vegalta Sendai beat Yokohama F Marinos 2-0, three days after firing former Australia manager Graham Arnold just six games into the season.

Shingo Akamine scored twice to give Vegalta their first win of the campaign in former assistant coach Susumu Watanabe's first game in charge.

"The atmosphere hasn't changed in just three days but things will definitely get better now that we've won," said Vegalta defender Makoto Kakuda.

Shinzo Koroki scored five minutes into injury time to give Urawa Red Diamonds a 2-1 win over Nagoya Grampus, while Vissel Kobe beat Tokushima Vortis 3-0 to keep the promoted side rooted to the bottom of the table on zero points.